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United States Patent |
5,332,320
|
Ohara
|
July 26, 1994
|
Printing apparatus with mode selection
Abstract
A ROM connected to a CPU comprises an emulation mode A judgment unit, an
emulation mode A execution unit, an emulation mode B judgment unit, an
emulation mode B execution unit, an emulation mode C judgment unit, an
emulation mode C execution unit, and an emulation mode automatic switching
unit. A ROM cartridge capable of being freely inserted into or removed
from a slot connected to the CPU comprises an emulation mode D judgment
unit and an emulation mode D execution unit. When a switching table is
created according to the priority order set for each emulation mode and
printing information is entered, an emulation mode judgment unit selects
the emulation mode by testing according to the priority order of the
emulation modes.
Inventors:
|
Ohara; Kiyotaka (Nagoya, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Nagoya, JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
036385 |
Filed:
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March 24, 1993 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
400/76; 358/1.13; 400/61 |
Intern'l Class: |
B41J 011/42 |
Field of Search: |
400/61,70,76,692
395/112
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4926347 | May., 1990 | Uchida et al. | 395/112.
|
4968159 | Nov., 1990 | Sasaki et al. | 400/76.
|
5073868 | Dec., 1991 | Tada | 395/112.
|
5075874 | Dec., 1991 | Steeves et al. | 395/112.
|
5228118 | Jul., 1993 | Sasaki | 395/112.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
179261 | Sep., 1985 | JP | 400/121.
|
Primary Examiner: Wiecking; David A.
Assistant Examiner: Kelley; Steven S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oliff & Berridge
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A printing apparatus for printing characters by entering printing
information including at least a control code and character codes,
converting the control code by one of emulation modes corresponding to the
control code, and printing characters corresponding to the character codes
according to the converted control code, comprising:
emulation mode internal memory means built into the printing apparatus for
storing an internal execution unit and an internal judgment unit, the
internal execution unit storing an emulation mode, the internal judgment
unit storing judgment data corresponding to the emulation mode stored in
the internal execution unit and executing a judging operation which judges
whether the control code detected by said control code detection means is
compatible with the emulation mode stored in the internal execution unit
according to the judgment data;
emulation mode external memory means structured to be freely inserted into
and removed from the printing apparatus for storing an external execution
unit and an external judgment unit, the external execution unit storing an
emulation mode different from that stored in the internal execution unit,
the external judgment unit storing judgment data corresponding to the
emulation mode stored in the external execution unit and executing a
judging operation which judges whether the control code detected by said
control code detection means is compatible with the emulation mode stored
in the external execution unit according to the judgment data;
control code detection means for detecting the control code from the
entered printing information;
emulation mode selection means for selecting one of the emulation modes
which corresponds to the control code, based on a result of the judging
operation in one of the internal judgment unit and the external judgment
unit, when said emulation mode external memory means is inserted; and
emulation mode execution means for converting the control code of the
entered printing information into a control code peculiar to the printing
apparatus according to the emulation mode selected by said emulation mode
selection means.
2. The printing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising priority order
setting means for setting a priority of a plurality of emulation modes
stored in both said emulation mode internal memory means and said
emulation mode external memory means, wherein said emulation mode
selection means selects one of the emulation modes which corresponds to
the control code, based on a result of the judging operation in one of the
internal judgment unit and the external judgment unit when said emulation
mode external memory means is inserted and according to the priority set
by said priority order setting means.
3. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a
switching control table for storing an internal storing position in which
the emulation modes and judgment data are stored in said emulation mode
internal memory means, an external storing position in which the emulation
mode and the judgment data are stored in said emulation mode external
memory means, and the priority of the plurality of emulation modes is set
by said priority setting means.
4. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said emulation
mode selection means selects a first emulation mode corresponding to the
control code encountered when checking the emulation modes according to
the priority stored in said switching control table.
5. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said priority
order setting means includes a display for displaying the plurality of
emulation modes, at least one single direction cross key for indicating
the emulation mode among the plurality of emulation modes displayed by
said display means and a setting key for enabling the setting of an order
of priority for the emulation mode indicated by said at least one single
direction scroll key.
6. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one
single direction scroll key changes the order of the priority after
enablement by said setting key.
7. A printing apparatus for printing characters by entering printing
information including at least a control code and character codes,
converting the control code by one of a plurality of emulation modes
corresponding to the control code, and printing characters corresponding
to the character codes according to the converted control code,
comprising:
emulation mode memory means for storing a plurality of emulation modes and
a plurality of judgment data, the emulation modes and the judgment data
corresponding to each other, the judgment data being for a judging
operation which judges whether the control code is compatible with a one
of the plurality of emulation modes;
priority order input means for operator input of a priority of the
plurality of emulation modes stored in said emulation mode memory means;
control code detection means for detecting the control code from the
entered printing information;
emulation mode selection means for selecting one of the emulation modes
which corresponds to the control code, according to a result of the
judging operation which judges whether the control code detected by said
control code detection means is compatible with one of the emulation modes
stored in said emulation mode memory means and according to the priority
set by said priority order input means; and
emulation mode execution means for converting the control code of the
entered printing information into a control code peculiar to the printing
apparatus according to the emulation mode selected by said emulation mode
selection means.
8. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said emulation
mode memory means comprises an emulation mode internal memory means built
into the printing apparatus for storing at least one of the plurality of
emulation modes and judgment data and an emulation mode external memory
means for storing at least one of the plurality of emulation modes and
judgment data different from the emulation mode and judgment data stored
in said emulation mode internal memory means.
9. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a
switching control table for storing an internal storing position in which
the emulation mode and judgment data are stored in said emulation mode
internal memory means, an external storing position in which the emulation
mode and the judgment data are stored in said emulation mode external
memory means, and the priority of each of the plurality of emulation modes
set by said priority order input means.
10. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said emulation
mode selection means sequentially checks the plurality of emulation modes
to determine the emulation mode corresponding to the control code
according to the priority stored in said switching control table.
11. A printing apparatus, comprising:
input means for inputting at least one control code and character codes;
control code detection means for detecting the inputted control code from
the character codes;
emulation mode internal memory means built into the printing apparatus for
storing an internal execution unit and an internal judgment unit, the
internal execution unit storing an emulation mode, the internal judgment
unit storing judgment data corresponding to the emulation mode stored in
the internal execution unit and executing a judging operation which judges
whether the control code detected by said control code detection means is
compatible with the emulation mode stored in the internal execution unit
according to the judgment data;
emulation mode external memory means, structured to be freely inserted into
and removed from the printing apparatus, for storing an external execution
unit and an external judgment unit, the external execution unit storing an
emulation mode different from the stored in the internal execution unit,
the external judgment unit storing judgment data corresponding to the
emulation mode stored in the external execution unit and executing a
judging operation which judges whether the control code detected by said
control code detection means is compatible with the emulation mode stored
in the external execution unit according to the judgment data;
priority order setting means for setting a priority of a plurality of
emulation modes stored in both said emulation mode internal memory means
and said emulation mode external memory means;
emulation mode selection means for selecting one of the emulation modes
which corresponds to the control code, based on a result of the judging
operation in one of the internal judgment unit and the external judgment
unit when said emulation mode external memory means is inserted, and
according to the priority set by said priority order setting means; and
emulation mode execution means for converting the control code of the
entered printing information into a control code peculiar to the printing
apparatus according to the emulation mode selected by said emulation mode
selection means.
12. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a
switching control table for storing an internal storing position in which
the emulation modes and judgment data are stored in said emulation mode
internal memory means, an external storing position in which at least one
emulation mode and corresponding judgment data are stored in said
emulation mode external memory means, and the priority of the plurality of
emulation modes as set by said priority order setting means.
13. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said emulation
mode selection means selects the emulation mode corresponding to the
control code by sequentially checking the judgment data according to the
priority stored in said switching control table until a match is made.
14. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said priority
order setting means includes a display for displaying the plurality of
emulation modes, at least one single direction scroll key for identifying
a one of the plurality of emulation modes displayed in said display means,
and a setting key for enabling the setting of an order of priority for the
emulation mode identified by said scroll key.
15. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said at least
one single direction scroll key changes the order of the priority after
enablement by said setting key.
16. A method for use with a printer for converting a control code for
printing by an emulation mode, comprising the steps of:
inserting an emulation mode external memory means into a printer, the
emulation mode external memory means containing at least one emulation
mode executing unit and associated judgment unit storing judgment data
corresponding to the emulation mode;
creating a table containing address data for the at least one emulation
mode executing unit and associated judgment unit in the emulation mode
external memory means and at least one emulation mode executing unit and
associated judgment unit in an emulation mode internal memory means
internal to the printer;
establishing by an operator a priority for each of the emulation mode
executing units and associated judgment units;
inputting printing data with an associated control code;
determining whether the control code of the input printing data is
compatible with one of the emulation modes in emulation mode executing
units of both the emulation mode external memory means and the emulation
mode internal memory means according to the judgment data stored in
judgment units of both the emulation mode external memory means and the
emulation mode internal memory means and according to the established
priority; and
activating the emulation mode executing unit of the emulation mode
compatible with the control code of the input printing data to initiate
printing.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein when said determining step
does not determine that the control code is compatible with the emulation
mode, prior to the activating step, further comprising the steps of:
removing the emulation mode external memory means from the printer; and
inserting another emulation mode external memory means into the printer.
18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said establishing step
comprises the steps of:
identifying a one of paired emulation mode executing unit and associated
judgment unit addresses in the table;
assigning a unique value to said pair; and
storing said unique value in the table associated with the pair.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said determining step
comprises checking the control code against each associated judgment data
in the order of the assigned unique values.
20. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein when said determining step
does not determine that the control code is compatible with the emulation
mode, further comprising the step of providing an error message.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a printing apparatus which converts a control
code of printing information according to any of a plurality of emulation
modes and prints characters according to the converted code.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various printing apparatuses are known in which printing information
including at least a control code and character codes are entered, the
control code is converted by an emulation mode compatible with the control
code, and characters corresponding to the character codes are printed
according to the converted control code.
In such printing apparatuses, a plural number of emulation modes and
judgment data respectively corresponding to the modes, which data being
for determining whether or not the printing information control codes are
compatible with the emulation modes, are stored in a ROM (read-only
memory) in a microcomputer incorporated in the printing apparatus. The
emulation mode is selected to be compatible with the control code detected
from the printing information and printing is performed according to the
character codes of printing information based on the selected emulation
mode.
Recently many kinds of emulation modes have come to be used with such
printing apparatuses. Some of such printing apparatuses are structured to
use a detachable ROM cartridge storing new emulation modes which are not
originally provided in the printing apparatus.
Such printing apparatuses, however, are structured to print all the
printing information in the emulation mode stored in the ROM cartridge
irrespective of the control code once the ROM cartridge is inserted or an
instruction is given through an operation panel after inserting the ROM
cartridge. Therefore, in the case where the printing information requires
both the emulation mode built into the printing apparatus and the
emulation mode contained in the cartridge, a cumbersome operation is
required involving inserting and removing the cartridge or requiring
further operations on the operation panel.
Although many kinds of emulation modes and corresponding judgment data can
be stored in advance in a built-in ROM in the printing apparatus,
erroneous functioning can occur with an increase in the number of
emulation modes. Namely, if the number of emulation modes is increased, in
some cases the corresponding judgment data are very similar to each other.
In that case, a certain kind of control code could be judged as being of
similar judgment data and an emulation mode could be selected which does
not correctly correspond to the control code.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of
using many kinds of emulation modes by executing simple operations.
According to the printing apparatus of the invention, printing information
including at least a control code and character codes are entered, the
control code is converted by the emulation mode corresponding to the
control code, and characters corresponding to the character codes are
printed according to the converted control code.
The printing apparatus of the invention comprises; built-in emulation mode
internal memory means in which are stored the emulation modes and
respectively corresponding judgment data for judging whether or not the
control code is compatible with the emulation mode, emulation modes
different from those stored in the built-in emulation internal memory
means capable of being freely inserted in or removed from the printing
apparatus are found in an emulation mode external memory means in which
are also stored judgment data for judging whether or not the control codes
are compatible with the emulation modes, control code detection means for
detecting the control code from the printing information entered,
emulation mode selection means for selecting an emulation mode, when the
emulation mode external memory means is inserted, by comparing the
detected control code with the judgment data in both the built-in
emulation mode internal memory means and emulation mode external memory
means, and emulation mode executing means for converting the control code
of the entered printing information into a peculiar control code of the
printing apparatus according to the selected emulation mode.
The printing apparatus of the invention is further provided with emulation
mode memory means in which are stored a plurality of emulation modes and
respectively corresponding judgment data for judging whether or not the
control codes are compatible with the emulation modes, priority order
setting means for setting the priority order of a plurality of the stored
emulation modes, control code selection means for selecting the control
code from the entered control code, emulation mode selection means for
selecting the emulation mode corresponding to the control code by
comparing the detected control code with judgment data of the emulation
mode memory means in succession in the order of priority, and emulation
mode executing means for converting the control code of the entered
printing information into the control code peculiar to the printing
apparatus according to the selected emulation mode.
The printing apparatus of the invention structured as described above uses
the emulation mode external memory, capable of being freely inserted in
and removed from the printing apparatus, and has stored therein the
emulation modes different from those of the emulation mode internal memory
means and the judgment data for judging whether the control code is
compatible with any of the emulation modes. The emulation mode selection
means selects, when the emulation mode external memory means is inserted,
the emulation mode corresponding to the control code detected by the
control code detection means by comparing the control code with each of
the data stored in both the emulation mode internal memory means and
emulation mode external memory means.
Owing to this, the emulation mode corresponding to the control code can be
automatically selected from the emulation modes stored in the emulation
mode internal memory means and emulation mode external memory means. The
emulation mode execution means converts the control code of the entered
printing information into the control code peculiar to the printing
apparatus according to the selected emulation mode.
Furthermore, the combined emulation mode memory means, that is, both
internal and external, of the invention has in store a plurality of
emulation modes and the judgment data for judging whether the control code
of the printing information is compatible with each of the emulation
modes, with each of the emulation modes corresponding to each of the
judgment data. The priority setting means sets the priority order of a
plurality of the emulation modes. The emulation mode selection means
compares the control code detected by the control code detection means
with each of the judgment data in the combined emulation mode memory means
in succession according to the priority order and selects the emulation
mode compatible with the control code.
Therefore, a required emulation mode can be correctly selected even if
emulation modes having judgment data confusingly similar to each other are
stored in the combined emulation mode memory means if the priority order
is set according to the frequency of use. Namely, the emulation mode
selection means compares the control code with each of the judgment data
according to the priority order in succession and after judging the
compatibility of the control code with one of the judgment data selects
the emulation mode compatible with the control code. Therefore, an
emulation mode of a low frequency of use relative to a control code of the
printing information is prevented from being accidentally used. The
emulation execution means converts the control code of the entered
printing information into a control code peculiar to the printing
apparatus.
With such a structure, any emulation mode can be accurately used even if
many kinds of emulation modes are stored in the combined emulation mode
memory means. Furthermore, since the emulation mode is selected
automatically according to the control code, many kinds of emulation modes
can be used by simple operations.
According to the invention, any emulation modes different from those stored
in the emulation mode internal memory means can be automatically selected
according to the control code by, as necessary, inserting the emulation
mode external memory means storing such emulation modes. Therefore, many
kinds of emulation modes can be used by using simple operations. Since the
emulation mode external memory means, storing the necessary emulation
modes, only has to be selectively inserted, there is no need for storing
many kinds of emulation modes in advance in the emulation mode internal
memory means. As a result, many kinds of emulation modes are made
available without excessively increasing the number of emulation modes
which are addressed by the emulation mode selection means. This prevents
emulation modes having confusingly similar judgment data from existing at
the same time so that the emulation modes can be used accurately.
According to the invention as described above, many kinds of emulation
modes can be accurately used by simple operations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described with reference to the figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a printing apparatus of an embodiment
according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a switching control table of the printing
apparatus of an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the architecture of a display device of an
embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the automatic switching process of emulation
modes of an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 portrays a diagrammatic view of a printing apparatus of a preferred
embodiment. The apparatus, for purposes of explanation only, is assumed to
have three kinds of emulation modes A, B and C.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus of the embodiment comprises a
central processing unit (CPU) 1 for executing various arithmetic
operations. Connected to CPU 1 are a random-access memory (RAM) 3 to which
data are randomly accessed and a read-only memory (ROM) 5 in which various
programs are stored, as described later. Also connected to the CPU 1 are
an interface 7, for entering printing information from an external host
device (not shown), a printing unit 9 for printing characters on a
recording paper sheet, a slot 13 into which a detachable ROM cartridge 11,
described later, can be freely inserted, and an operation panel 15 for
setting the priority order of the emulation modes.
The RAM 3 comprises an input buffer 3a, for storing, through the CPU 1, the
printing information entered via the interface 7, and an automatic
emulation switching control table 3b for storing the priority order of the
emulation modes and emulation mode addresses corresponding to the order of
the emulation modes (hereinafter simply called the switching control
table).
The ROM 5 corresponds to the emulation mode internal memory means or
emulation mode memory means and comprises an emulation mode A judgment
unit 51a storing the data for judging whether or not the printing
information is compatible with the emulation mode A, an emulation mode A
executing unit 51b storing the program for executing the emulation mode A,
an emulation mode B judgment unit 52a, an emulation mode B executing unit
52b, an emulation mode C judgment unit 53a, an emulation mode C executing
unit 53b, and an automatic emulation mode switching unit 55 storing the
program for automatic emulation mode switching process which will be
described later.
The detachable ROM cartridge 11 to be inserted into the slot 13 corresponds
to the emulation mode external memory means and comprises an emulation
mode D judgment unit 11a storing the data for judging whether or not the
printing information is compatible with the emulation mode D and an
emulation mode D executing unit 11b storing the program for executing the
emulation mode D.
The switching control table 3b has the structure shown in FIG. 2. When the
power of the printing apparatus is turned on with the ROM cartridge
inserted into the slot 13, the addresses of the emulation modes A-C
judgment units 51a--53a and the emulation modes A-C executing units
51b--53b and of the emulation mode D judgment unit 11a and the emulation
mode D executing unit 11b are set and stored in the switching control
table 3b. The address data for each of the emulation modes A-D is stored
with the emulation mode's priority order. The priority order is set using
the operation panel 15 as described below.
As shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 15 comprises a display 15a for
displaying the setting con-tents, scroll keys 15b for scrolling up and
down the image on the display 15a, and a setting key 15c for entering the
setting contents shown on the display 15a. The operation panel 15 is
further provided (not shown) with various other switches such as those for
selecting the emulation mode. When a specific emulation mode is identified
with a specific switch, the display 15a displays the contents with the
architecture shown in FIG. 3.
When the emulation mode setting is instructed, the display 15a displays the
currently set modes of "EMULATION A" through "EMULATION D." When the "AUTO
EMULATION" is shown by operating the scroll keys 15b and the setting key
15c is then operated, the display shows "EMULATION A XX" (XX denoting the
priority order currently assigned to the emulation mode A). When the down
scroll key 15b is operated, the display 15a displays in succession
"EMULATION B YY," "EMULATION C ZZ," and so on (YY and ZZ denoting the
priority orders currently assigned to the emulation modes B and C
respectively). If the setting key 15c is operated when an emulation mode
of which the priority order is to be changed is displayed, the priority
order of that emulation mode can be changed within the range of 00 through
99 by the operation of the scroll keys 15b. If the setting key 15c is
operated when the display 15a is showing the intended priority order, the
CPU 1 stores the emulation mode with the corresponding priority order in
the RAM 3.
After setting the priority order of each emulation mode as described above,
the CPU 1 executes the automatic emulation mode switching process
described below according to the program stored in the automatic emulation
mode switching unit 55.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the automatic emulation mode switching
process. When the process is started, the switching control table 3b is
created, at step S1, according to the priority order of the emulation
modes set as described above. At step $3, a control code is read from the
printing information entered through the interface 7 from the external
host device. At step S5, a judgment is made whether the read control code
has 512 bytes or more. If the number of bytes is less than 512, the
process goes again to step S3 and repeats reading the control codes and
when the number of bytes is 512 or more the process goes to step S7.
At step S7, the pointer of the switching control table 3b is brought to the
emulation mode of the highest priority order. At the succeeding step S9,
an emulation mode judgment unit (51a, 52a, 53a or 11a) indicated by the
pointer is read. At step S11, a judgment is made according to the data
stored in one of the emulation mode judgment units 51a through 11a whether
the control code read at step S3 is compatible with the emulation mode
indicated by the pointer. If compatible, the process goes to step S13 and,
if not compatible, to step S15. At step S15, a judgment is made whether
the judgments are finished for all the emulation modes in the switching
control table 3b.
If the judgments are finished for all the emulation modes, that is the
control code read at step S3 is not compatible with any of the emulation
modes in the switching control table 3, the process is brought to an end
at step S17 with an error message shown on the display 15a. If the
judgments are not finished for all the emulation modes, the pointer of the
switching control table 3b is moved to the next highest priority order at
the succeeding step S19 and the process returns to step S9.
Namely, the control code read at step S3 is judged in succession, according
to the priority order of the emulation modes, through the loop consisting
of steps S9 through S19 and using the data of the emulation mode judgment
units 51a through 11a. If the control code is judged to be compatible with
the emulation mode indicated by the pointer and the process goes to step
S13, the appropriate one of the emulation mode execution units 51b through
11b indicated by the pointer is read. Then the control code of the
printing information entered through the interface 7 from a known type of
routine (not shown) is converted to the control code peculiar to the
printing unit 9. When step S13 is finished, the process goes again to step
S3, reads the succeeding control code and executes similar processes.
According to the invention as described above, the emulation mode D stored
in the ROM cartridge 11 can be automatically selected according to the
control code of the printing information in a manner similar to that in
which the emulation modes A through C, stored in advance in the ROM 5, are
selected by inserting the ROM cartridge 11 into the slot 13. Therefore,
many kinds of emulation modes can be used by simple operations. Also, many
kinds of emulation modes can be used without increasing the number of
emulation modes which need to be stored at one time in the switching table
3b because only one cartridge 11 storing necessary emulation modes has to
be suitably selected and inserted. As a result, emulation modes that are
confusingly similar to one another can be prevented from being present at
the same time in the emulation mode judgment units 51a through 11a so that
the emulation mode can be accurately selected.
Furthermore according to the embodiment, the priority order of the
emulation modes A through D can be set by the operation panel 15 and the
compatibility of the control code with one of the emulation modes is
judged in succession according to the priority order. Therefore, a
specific emulation mode can be accurately selected by setting the priority
order of the emulation modes according to the frequency of use even if
there are emulation modes similar to each other in the emulation mode
judgment units 51a through 11a. Namely in the processing of the loop of
steps S9 through S19, once an emulation mode corresponding to the control
code is selected, judgment of an emulation mode having a priority order
lower than that of the selected emulation mode is not executed. Therefore,
there is no possibility of incorrectly selecting an emulation mode of a
lower frequency of use with respect to the control code of the printing
information. As a result, the printing apparatus of the embodiment is
capable of very accurately using many kinds of emulation modes by simple
operations.
While only one slot 13 is provided in the embodiment described above, a
plurality of slots 13 may be provided if different addresses are allotted
to respective slots 13. In that case, a plurality of emulation modes not
stored in the ROM 5 can be used without exchanging the ROM cartridges 11
and the number of emulation modes stored in the ROM 5 may be reduced to
one or two.
If the slot 13 is provided, many kinds of emulation modes can be used by
appropriately selecting the ROM cartridge 11 without sacrificing the
accuracy of selection even if the priority order is fixed. If a plurality
of slots 13 are provided, priority order may be set to each of the slots
13. In that case, the priority order may be changed by exchanging the ROM
cartridges 11.
An arrangement is also possible that stores a number of emulation modes, in
advance, in the ROM 5 without providing the slot 13. In that case too, any
one of the emulation modes can be accurately selected by appropriately
setting the priority order.
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